Three Lessons from Thomas Jefferson Courtesy of Glenn Beck

Three lessons can be learned from Thomas Jefferson: 1) Question with boldness, 2) Hold to the truth, and 3) Speak without fear.  These lessons can be and should be applied to education.  They need not apply just to the humanities but they lend themselves quite well to it.  If we hold on to these three principles, we will be able to cut away from the bias that foments everything we are bombarded with.

The first principle is the most important.  Thomas Jefferson said, "Question with boldness even the existence of God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."  Questioning is the most important thing we can do.  We are constantly told what to think, how to think and what is the absolute truth.  In reality these "truths" are colored by a person's education and upbringing.

You would be right to question what I write, as that is the point of questioning with boldness.  You must question everything you do not believe to be true but equally if not more importantly is to question what you do believe to true.  Why do you believe what you believe?  If you cannot answer that you need to do some serious soul searching.  Knowing why you believe something makes your argument stronger.

The second principle is to hold to the truth.  Once you have found the answers to your questions; it is time to speak to the truth as you understand it.  You must always speak the truth.  A lie, no mater how large or infinitesimal, will come back to haunt you.  Honesty is the best policy and one that you should seek to employ in your daily life.  It is of the upmost importance to be truthful and honorable.  For if we are to be free it is our moral duty to be honest and hold to the truth.

The third and final principle: speak without fear is paramount in a free society.  You must be able speak your mind without fear of repercussions.  You must be able to speak out against injustices or things you disagree with.  To speak without fear is to know you are right.  You cannot ever be afraid to speak out against those in power because a free society demands mistrust of those who hold power and make decisions that affect all of us. 

If we are to be truly free we must break the shackles that have bound us.  We must educate ourselves and not rely on anyone but ourselves.  We must not allow others to make decisions for us that would be better made by us.  We must question with boldness.  We must hold to the truth.  We must speak without fear.  Only then can we be truly free and fulfill an idea that permeates through American culture: that all men are created equal.

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